Response operations continue for pipeline fire near Bayou Perot

Response operations for a pipeline fire that ignited a tugboat near Bayou Perot continue Thursday.

As previously reported, the blaze began at about 6 p.m. Tuesday when a tugboat owned by Settoon Towing collided with the pipeline while pushing a 154-foot barge.

The Coast Guard is conducting a full investigation of the incident, though it has not made any immediate conclusions.

The fire is still burning, but the Coast Guard said it was stabilized as of Thursday afternoon. Personnel from T&T Salvage and the Todd Michael spud barge were at the scene for cooling operations of the tank barge.

Responders said they are monitoring the integrity of the barge in order to allow a safe salvage operation of the approximately 2,200 barrels of non-compromised oil on board as soon as the fire is extinguished. They have deployed 10,400 feet of boom around the tank barge to contain any possible pollution risks, and the Coast Guard has placed temporary flight restrictions over the airspace near the Shannon E. Settoon barge at and below 5,000 feet within about a one-mile radius.

Copyright 2013 byWDSU.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Forty years ago, one of the greatest boxing matches in history took place in an unlikely setting: the capital of the Philippines. Muhammad Ali's epic win over great rival Joe Frazier in 1975 became known as the "Thrilla in Manila."